Persistence-of-vision watch a winner
22 March 2006
News
Microchip Technologies' StartNow Design Contest has ended. The contest attracted entries from around the world from people who submitted electronic circuit designs based on PIC microcontrollers and analog devices. One of the winners of the December theme: Electronic Toys and Gadgets, designed the 'POV-watch' a fun, impressive way to see the time on your wrist.
David Stivens' Persistence-of-Vision watch device displays the time in the air when the wearer's arm is waved. The PIC uses six I/O lines to power the surface-mounted LEDs though current limiting resistors. There is also a piezo buzzer used as an alarm.
There are five buttons attached which use up the rest of the I/O lines. These are set time, set alarm, minutes, seconds, and display. The display button sets the LEDs into action to display the current time that appears to 'hang in the air' as the user waves his/her arm about. As the arm is waved the LEDs flash on and off and leave, what appears to the eye, the digital figures of the current time of day in the air.
The other buttons set the time and the alarm time (piezo buzzer sounds as well as the LED lights up). This is cleared by holding the alarm button for 3 seconds. The circuit uses one 3 V button battery cell and an internal clock is used to save space which is accurate to 1%.
Different colour LEDs can be used to add different effects. In addition to time, the watch could have built-in hidden messages that could be displayed with different key combinations or key presses for longer periods of time. A fun way to amuse kids and adults alike.
http://techtrain.microchip.com/startnow/
Further reading:
Rooibos heads to space
News
A South African scientific initiative linking agriculture and space research has officially launched today with the Rooibos in Space programme at Parklands College’s Innovation Centre in Cape Town.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: Local can be international
Technews Publishing
Editor's Choice News
Welcome to the July 2026 issue of
Dataweek. As you can see from this introduction,
Dataweek’s regular editor, Peter Howells, is on extended leave and I am filling the void in his editor’s column – hopefully without being too boring.
Read more...
Landis+Gyr EMEA introduces new company name: EYKON
News
EYKON is the new company name of Landis+Gyr EMEA, formerly part of the Landis+Gyr Group. The company supports electricity, gas, water and thermal utilities in managing increasingly complex networks, improving operational efficiency and enabling more sustainable use of resources.
Read more...
Yamaha Robotics will show visitors to EFX
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services News
Yamaha Robotics will show visitors to EFX 2026, the Expo for Electronics Manufacturing, in Stuttgart from 6-8 October 2026, how advanced surface-mount automation helps companies grow their business and increase productivity.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: The art of measuring the truth
Technews Publishing
Editor's Choice News
All electronic measurements are a lie. The trick is making the lie as small as possible.
Read more...
TSE has relocated
News
The Technology Station in Electronics (TSE) has entered a new chapter with its relocation from the CSIR campus to TUT-owned building at Ditsela Place in Hatfield.
Read more...
Innovative MyLegrand app
RS South Africa
News
Legrand SA is set to launch the MyLegrand mobile application, a digital platform designed to strengthen engagement across its professional network.
Read more...
Kulani Energy acquires critical assets from Optipower
News
Kulani Energy preserves engineering, procurement, and construction capability and positions a wholly women-owned firm at the forefront of South Africa’s grid expansion.
Read more...
From Cape Town to Johannesburg
News
Würth Elektronik South Africa has taken a significant step forward with its recent relocation from Cape Town to Johannesburg, marking a new phase of growth and ambition for the company.
Read more...
Lesley Havenga: Building partnerships for Africa’s electronics future
Editor's Choice News
As Würth Electronik expands its footprint across South Africa and the broader sub-Saharan region, Havenga’s blend of manufacturing expertise, supply chain knowledge, and people-centred leadership appears well suited to the task.
Read more...
printer friendly version